MUSIC, DESIGN & INSPIRATION

Archive for "Mixtape"

Check out the OFFtrack radio show. Tracklistings are more then convincing and the shows are full of real gems. The Episode below features Toshiya Kawasaki (Mule Music, Tokyo) in the mix and more great music to end the show. Some insight:

OFFtrack today is an internet platform providing all music lovers around the globe with an eclectic blend ranging from boogie, disco, house, detroit, electronica and beatscience to folk and jazz music. basically the music we love and try to create a platform for no matter what kind of pigeonhole.

Established in the year ‘98 as a weekly radioshow hosted by the originator Dirk Rumpff it is now available as a podcast broadcasted from Berlin. Additionally the show is available through soundcloud, righton.fm and bln.fm

Our frequently updated page with an archive of past shows offers regular interviews and exclusive guest DJ-Mixes by the likes of Jazzanova, Henrik Schwarz, Trickski etc. in a bi-weekly rhythm. Along with the usual suspects the idea is also to promote new talents and establish a forum for names that are new on the court. To many as well as we are.

One of my favourite mixtapes these days. Percussion Lab’s 23 year old Nooka Jones also described as their “intern” in the attempt of merging all the grooves he loves in one mix. Check him out at http://soundcloud.com/nookajones. Just about my way of thinking.. stop calling it names, it’s music.

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It’s fitting that the first feature mix we’re posting after a long overdue site upgrade is by Nooka Jones. Nooka joined the Percussion Lab family as our ‘intern’ last Fall. He hasn’t done much in the way of coffee retrieval, office sweeping, or other typical intern tasks; his duties more or less consist of straight rocking the opening slot (and sometimes the closing slot) of our weekly Monday night Percussion Lab Radio event.

Nooka is one of the most open and curious dj’s I’ve met. His sets are defined by seamless mixes and a freakishly comprehensive knowledge of the history of dance music for a 23 year old. In his first (almost all vinyl!) mix for the site, Nooka goes the ‘journey’ route, choosing to cram all of his disparate influences and passions into a single mix.

Long story short, it works. From the funky abstract bubblings of Falty DL, Seafloor and Soul Clap, to the pure house stylings of Oliver $ and Catz n Dogs, to producers of the moment like Addison Groove, Boddika, and Sepalcure, he touches on all of the various genres and sounds that make up the wide open world club music is enjoying in a post-dubstep moment.

There’s a lot of shit attached to that term, ‘post dubstep’, but I think it fits. For the last year or so – dare I say since the end of Dub War NYC? – wherever you go to hear dance music, you’re hearing people play across genre lines. We’ve been calling it ‘bass music’, but post dubstep fits as well…dubstep was more than a sound, it was a way of viewing the dancefloor, the global dance culture, the studio, and the speakers themselves. As the genre devolved into metal-influenced basslines and a brostep culture, the heads took off for the far corners of the dance music world, forcing cumbia, reggae, house, UK Funky, hip hop, grime, dubstep, and jungle back into the blender, and instead of coming up with the next ‘It sound’, decided to put it all under one umbrella, and just groove.

Let’s be clear: ‘Post dubstep’ isn’t a genre title, it’s a state of mind. The ‘Next Big ‘Sound’ is gathering itself in the wings, to be sure, but in the meantime, if you listen to this mix, you’ll see that wherever we’re going as a scene, we’re gonna have a good time on the way. Nooka Jones nails the cross genre moment we’re in…Enjoy.

J’aime Le Dubstep features quite a lot of mixtapes, and generally they are a little bit to rough for me. This one got me though.. exploring the deeper side of bass, Porkshop from San Francisco puts together a wicked mixtape.. keep an eye on this guy!

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San Francisco based DJ/Producer Porkchop (Benjamin Keyser) has built a rising obelisk of sound stemming from the muscles and chambers of the underground scene into the high gloss swash of the refined dubstep movement above. In addition to his solo offerings, Porkchop contributes to many of the SF bass-fixated conglomerates and operates half of ADSUM with Mikey Fisher (Future Simple Project). His live performances are a mix of heady minimalist dubs and spontaneous compositions, further blurring the lines between DJ, musician, and artist.

Lexx is back with another superb mixtape. This time for www.noiseinmyhead.com.au, two hour freeform sonic excursion that broadcasts every Sunday 10pm-midnight on Melbourne community radio station (3RRR 102.7FM).

Keeping the guests rolling with a super mellow set from Lexx, all the way from Zurich, Switzerland. Lexx’s mixes are enough to make you melt and this is no exception. Great late night radio and perfect for the week’s end. A bulk of his previous efforts are hosted at Test Pressing (of course!), available here, here, here and here. Lexx’s exquisite taste is also present in his own productions, remixes and edits. Highly active in this department, his output is sprawled across releases on Permanent Vacation, Claremont 56, Messalina, Leng etc. Definitely looking forward to hearing his impending rework of The Incarnations. In the meantime, find a relaxing spot and peace out with us…

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One of the new favorites on my tracklist is Paxton Fettel. He is from Copenhagen, Denmark and I found him through a lovely record label from Berlin called Falk Recordings. On his soundcloud page he writes:

When he was a kid both parents were in the music business, working at some major labels.
One night when very young, He picked up the sticks at a band rehearsal of the danish band Miss B. Haven that was the point that started off this drama. A drum kit followed when about five years old, followed by guitar, bass & then piano. However, this is a story that strays a little from the average musical tale, almost every major genre has been explored – only now has he has found a musical palette with which he feels comfortable.

-” . . . Playing around with the deep, sexy, funky and charming universe of House is very pleasing, and I have never enjoyed music the way I do now. I’ve found a niche where I can do the stuff I like, evolve in any way I want to and explore the thousands of opportunities electronic music brings . . .”
Currently Paxton is venturing down the deep and wondrous path of Deephouse and downtempo, Be sure to check the upcoming releases.

With Nico Jaar leading the way, slow(-er) side of house music is definitely developing into something verrrry warm & friendly. Good news for everyone i guess.
I give you a recent mixtape of Paxton Fettel’s current music.. another nice thing: no boring snippets, but a full length mixtape. Check his soundcloud for more.. this is good!

Gadi Mizrahi is part of the wolf + lamb duo from NYC, is running the vinyl only imprint Double Standard Records and is currently touring the World showcasing the W+L vs. Soul Clap DJ Kicks. He and his crew are hanging out at the hotel i work at in Berlin. They had a nice little sunday’s bbq here this weekend. Check the pictures on the Hotel Blog.
As for the mix.. slow & funky it showcases what the label and Gadi have to offer.. quality music from a wide spectrum of genres. It was recorded on a recent gig at The Electric Tea Garden in Seattle.

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Quite some time went by since i last posted the Hotflush Podcast.. and its well worth it this time. Until now unknown to me, Roko delivers the kind of dubstep is like.
Light, uplifting.. with some technoid twist and a little rough in the middle. Topnotch!

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